Students help host accounting conference

The University of North Georgia's (UNG) Nu Gamma chapter of Beta Alpha Psi (BAP) co-hosted the BAP Mid-Year Meeting in Atlanta from Feb. 9-10 with students and faculty from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. BAP's theme for the meeting was "Embracing Innovation. Empowering Professionals." 

BAP is an honors organization for accounting, finance, and information systems students and professionals. 

Lisa Nash, a senior lecturer of accounting, serves as faculty adviser for the group along with Dr. Tad Ransopher and Dr. Denise McWilliams.

The Nu Gamma chapter's student leadership team and Nash coordinated the planning activities with the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Nash, Ransopher and Dr. William Black accompanied 14 students from UNG to the meeting. Some of those students also presented. All of the student attendees served in various capacities to ensure conference operations ran smoothly.

"The experience allowed the students to participate in a professional conference and sharpen their leadership skills by serving during the event," Nash said. "It was nice for UNG to receive the recognition as a host chapter, especially since the conference was held in Atlanta."

Dustin Ward, a senior from St. Louis, Missouri, pursuing a degree in accounting, serves as tutoring and mentoring chair of BAP at UNG. Working alongside University of Tennessee students to execute the conference was beneficial, according to Ward. 

"We were able to practice project management skills," Ward said.  

Erin Whatley, UNG BAP president, and Abby Keener, UNG BAP vice president of activities, shared a presentation on chapter operations in which they spoke about how the group recruits members at UNG and the UNG BAP chapter's Certificate of Professional Development program. 

Keener, a Master of Accountancy student from Athens, Georgia, said the conference shined a light on different career pathways. She also appreciates that BAP is open to students pursuing degrees in accounting, finance and information systems. 

"It's good to see how all of these disciplines work together," Keener said.